A Sheetcake Named Desire by Jacklyn Brady

A Sheetcake Named Desire is the first in a new mystery series, A Piece of Cake, by Jacklyn Brady. Chef Rita Lucero heads to New Orleans to have her ex-husband, Phillippe sign some divorce papers. However, before she can do that she finds him at his business, Zydeco Cakes with a knife in his chest. Rita is thrown into action because since the divorce was not final she now owns the company.

There had been tension at Zydeco but Rita cannot believe Ox, Phillippe’s good friend had anything to do with it though Phillippe and Ox had argued that day. Miss Frankie, Rita’s mother-in-law loves her and wants her to stay and find out the killer. She also wants Rita to take over the business. Rita does stay to get things worked out but soon finds out there has been a lot going on at Zydeco. There is a man who has tried to buy the company and Phillippe’s girlfriend is not exactly what she appears to be. The employees aren’t sure what to think of Rita but she has more strength than she realizes and jumps in to find out what is going on and keep the cake business going. Add to that mix Detective Sullivan who seems more interested than just in solving a murder.

Brady has written interesting characters: Rita, a strong woman but is not a smart aleck like so many female sleuths; Miss Frankie, not your typical mother-on-law but likeable strong Southern lady who really respects Rita; and then there is the interesting Detective Sullivan. I ended the book wanting to read more about them all and to try some of the recipes Brady added at the back of the book.

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